DOUGLAS KIRKLAND had been at the top of the game since the early 1960s when as a youngster, he managed to get a job working for Look Magazine at the age of 24. His work was and is always strong and memorable. In 1961 he photographed Marilyn Monroe – the pictures we all know of her in a bed with white sheets – and of course his career was made. Later he became one of Hollywood’s most respected special stills photographers, working on hundreds of feature films and forging trusting relationships with most of the stars we know and admire. He has had access – and it’s not only because he’s an excellent photographer with charisma to spare of his own; it’s because he always comes back with powerful, memorable images.

One of the first big name photographers to move whole- heartedly into the digital realm, he is a Canon Explorer of Light. Recently he returned to the use of the 8×10 view camera, making an amazing series of recreations of famous scenes from legendary Italian films for Vanity Fair Italia.In bringing the 8×10 out for this series, he created some of the finest work of his career and demonstrated that he is still at the top of his game. His mastery of multiple formats and portraiture is what keeps him on the lists of many photo editors around the world.

For those who have been intrigued by the possibilities offered by the use of the view camera – particularly the 8×10, the opportunity afforded by the workshop he will teach at the Palm Springs Photo Festival this year is unique and extraordinary. Kirkland will spend three and a half days working with students to learn first the basics of how the camera works and is used – what its special capabilities are and how to use it to create unique portraits – unobtainable by any other method – followed by ample time by each attendee to actually work with 8×10 cameras and critiquing the results. Students will photograph each other as well as professional models. Learning how he makes portraits with the camera, how he works with subjects and his models on location will be an experience both valuable and of lasting importance. “Using 8×10 is a different mentality. You have to create the image by directing your subject.”

If you’ve never worked with a view camera – don’t miss this opportunity. It’s truly one of the most valuable offered at Connect 2010 – you’ll actually see and review the results of the film you’ll shoot. There will be 8×10 cameras, generously provided to the workshop by Art Center College of Design, available to each student for several days.

Learn how Douglas combines the quality of the 8×10 view camera with the miracle of digital photography. He will show how he uses his Canon digital camera as his “Polaroid”, to evaluate the scene, then shoots the image on his 8×10. – you’ll learn how he scans or actually photographs his 8×10 chromes or negatives with his digital camera, imports the file into Photoshop, and produces the hybrid photograph that will distinguish portraits made using these methods from any you’ve ever made before.

To review the description of the workshop, HERE.

(c) PSPF 2010.